Ten stolen cars turned over to Korean Customs

The Bureau of Customs turned over yesterday to Korean Customs the 10 stolen and smuggled luxury cars from Korea that were apprehended in the Port of Cebu.

Philippine Customs commissioner Napoleon Morales and Cebu Customs collector Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang symbolically handed over the items to Choi-Man Park and Man-Jae Choi of the Korean Customs Service.

Also, both parties signed a certificate to serve as proof that the items had been faithfully kept under the stewardship of the Philippine Customs since their arrival last April 12 until yesterday.

The certificate declared the successful conclusion of the joint operation conducted in the Port of Cebu concerning the apprehension of ten stolen cars from Korea and loaded on five containers on board "Pearl Island" vessel.

It stated further that the items shall be re-exported to Korea without any delay or no later than May 19 after compliance of pertinent rules and regulations of the Republic of the Philippines.

The shipment was initially tipped-off by Roh-Suk Hwan of the Intelligence and International Affairs Bureau of the Korean Customs Service to Collector John Simon of the International Affairs-Office of the Commissioner of the Philippine Bureau of Customs.
Morales immediately issued an alert order to seize the shipment and place it under the bureau's control on April 13. - Gregg M. Rubio